No owner of a lot or the agent in charge thereof shall permit snow and ice to accumulate on the sidewalk in front of or abutting upon such property for a period of more than 24 hours after the snow or ice has fallen thereon, and if any owner of such lot or agent in charge thereof shall fail or refuse to remove any accumulation of snow and ice upon the property, in addition to other penalties, the City Engineer may remove or cause to be removed the accumulation of snow and ice, and the cost of removing the snow and ice shall be assessed against the owner of the property abutting on the sidewalk from which the same is removed and shall be collected as provided by law.